DEP Announces Greater Local Flexibility for Municipal Stormwater Permits

DEP announced last week that it had reached agreement with EPA on PAG-13, a general permit for municipal separate storm sewer systems, commonly referred to as an MS-4 permit, that provides for renewal effective March 2013.  DEP stated the agreement will allow each regulated municipality to have "the flexibility to develop and implement its own Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan, which can account for local conditions and allow for local decision-making," according to Secretary Michael Krancer.  

The present PAG-13 was set to expire June 2012, but DEP provided a nine-month extension to allow additional time for municipalities to assess their storm sewer systems and to apply for the revised permit.  Municipalities must now apply six months prior to the termination of their existing PAG-13 permit, which will expire in March 2013.  Municipalities must still develop minimum control measures in six categories, as was the case with the previous edition of the general permit.  The six minimum control measures are: public outreach and education, public participation and involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction activities greater than one acre, post construction in new and redeveloped areas, and good housekeeping for municipal operations. For more information, click on "Water" at the DEP website. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Protect Family Health with Water Well Testing  

Mother Nature flexed her muscles with frequent record rainfall events recently.  As a result, even a drinking water well with no visible damage from flooding (sediment in the well, well under water, well pit flooded), may have become contaminated, possibly from a septic system in the area. Did you know that under drenched conditions, research shows that bacteria can be carried up to 400 feet through the soil?  This means that many private drinking water wells, even those located outside the required 100 foot protection zone from the homeowner's septic system, may have become contaminated with bacteria, and should be promptly tested.   Well water should have zero total coliforms for it to meet the acceptable drinking water standard. Recent studies show that even before the floods, 35-40% of private wells in Pennsylvania failed to meet drinking water standards, potentially exposing families to illness. 

Under normal conditions, the 100 foot buffer is generally adequate to protect water quality in the well. However, the wet weather has saturated soils, and can potentially allow an interconnection between the well and the septic drainage field. For that reason now is an excellent time to do a well test for total coliform, and disinfect the well if needed.  

For homeowners in one of the disaster-impacted counties, the Department of Environmental Protection has offered free water testing. Sample containers may be obtained from the DEP office and returned there for testing. Residents who need water test kits or wish to drop them off for sampling are encouraged to visit a DEP Regional office during regular weekday business hours as well as the Disaster Recovery Centers set up in various counties throughout the flood-affected regions.

For more information:  click on DEP Flood Recovery Information and
DEP Reminds Homeowners to Properly Disinfect, Test Private Water Wells 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website:  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/whatdo.html

Penn State Cooperative Extension Shock Chlorination of wells and springs, and other Resources. Check out the Private Well Testing and Protection Video.

Hundreds of local police departments across Pennsylvania are participating in a collaborative effort with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the Third Nationwide Drug Collection Day on October 29th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and will offer free, anonymous collection of unwanted, expired, and unused drugs for proper disposal.   Please help publicize collection locations in your area.  Prescription and over the counter medications accepted, i.e. solid dosage tablets, capsules, liquids/creams (in containers). Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative. 

Improper disposal of medicines and personal care products (PPCPs) through flushing can reach waterways, contaminating streams, groundwater and drinking water supplies. To find a collection site near you, visit www.dea.gov.   

 
WREN has posted results of the last Take Back Day in April at our website at Take-back Day Report.  For more information, click here for a Fact Sheet by Penn State Cooperative Extension or their webpage on the topic. For free public ed materials from RCAP and NESC to use in your community about PPCPs and water click here.  

Upcoming Events and Funding

Quick Links  

Looking for prepackaged public ed/outreach materials? Check out hundreds of helpful examples at the WREN website.

EPA Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling Tipline - Report illegal disposal of wastes or other non-emergency suspicious activity related to oil and natural gas development.  Call 1-877-919-4372 (toll free), or  email   eyesondrilling@epa.gov 

PA Fish & Boat Commission Fish kill Hotline: 1-855-FISH-KIL (1-855-347-4545) to report suspected pollution incidents or fish kill. More info at: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/newsreleases/2011press/fish_kil.htm

Need help with how to do a better project evaluation?  Check out the Embracing Program Evaluation podcast.  

WREN websites: http://wren.palwv.org and www.sourcewaterpa.org